Primary Battery Recycling in Europe

Primary Battery Recycling in Europe Neil Watson 

European Portable Battery Association, Hazelwick Avenue, Crawley, Mallory House, West Sussex RH 10 IFQ, Great Britain 

The term general purpose consumer battery can be used to describe any portable battery system. This includes both single cells, such as those used in torches, radios or other similar devices and battery packs used within mobile communication and cordless tools for example. The term covers both rechargeable chemistries, as well as the more abundant single use chemistries. 

The term primary battery is used to describe any single use battery system. These include, amongst others, alkaline-manganese, zinc-carbon, lithium, mercuric oxide and zinc-air chemistries. Primary batteries are lightweight and convenient, relatively inexpensive and eonsequently are used by households throughout the world to power portable electrical and electronic devices, radios, torches, toys and a whole host of other every day appliances. 

The most common primary batteries in use today are the zinc-carbon and the alkaline-manganese battery systems. Together, they constitute in excess of 90% by weight of the total consumer battery market in Europe. Consequently, particularly within the realm of battery recycling, the term primary battery is often used to describe just these two systems. 

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